Cubs notebook: An up and down day for Pignatiello

Wednesday

Aug 29, 2007 at 12:01 AMAug 29, 2007 at 2:29 AM

Cubs notes from Aug. 28.

Jeff Vorva

It was a bad news/good news/bad news day for Carmen Pignatiello.
The left-handed pitcher and Mokena native was sent down to Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday to make room on the 25-man roster for Alfonso Soriano.
The good news? He shouldn’t be down there long.
“He’ll be back after the Triple-A season,” Cubs manager Lou Piniella said. “We’ll bring him back.”
The second bit of bad news is that Iowa’s season ends Monday.
Thus Pignatiello will not be on the Cubs’ playoff roster unless there is an injury. Only players on the 25-man roster and those on the disabled list as of Friday will be on the playoff roster.
Pignatiello was unavailable for comment after the demotion.
Pignatiello was called up to the parent squad Aug. 14 and made his major league debut two days later by pitching a scoreless inning against Cincinnati in front of numerous friends and family members at Wrigley Field. He earned a one-pitch strikeout against St. Louis’ Chris Duncan after a rain delay in a win over the Cardinals on Aug. 18. He also threw one pitch to St. Louis’ Rick Ankiel for a homer on Aug. 20, the last time Pignatiello was in a game.
“He hadn’t pitched in awhile, and we’ve got only four days until Sept. 1 so we decided to go with 11 pitchers,” Piniella said. “With the day off (Monday), one of the starting pitchers can go into the bullpen if need be. And if not, we could get someone here (today).”
The 24-year-old Pignatiello, who now lives in Aurora, was drafted in the 20th round in 2000.
Ohman Returning
Piniella also said that another Iowa left-handed pitcher, Will Ohman, will return.
Ohman received a surprise demotion in Houston on Aug. 7 and then told reporters he had a sore left shoulder. Piniella and general manager Jim Hendry denied knowing about the injury. On Aug. 10, Ohman tried to clarify things by going on WSCR-AM (670). Ohman said the Cubs’ medical staff knew he was hurt and didn’t tell Piniella or Hendry.
That prompted one player to call Ohman “our ex-lefty pitcher” and add: "How many times was he in the trainer's room? You can't not show up and then say, ‘I'm hurt.’ ’’
Ohman had a 1.59 ERA in his first eight appearances for Iowa, walking four and striking out six in 5 2/3 innings.
Hill Could Be Back
Koyie Hill, who was designated for assignment on Aug. 20, cleared waivers and was outrighted to Iowa.
Hill hit just .161 for the North Siders but in games the catcher started, the team was 17-8. It’s likely he will join Pignatiello and Ohman as three players among six the Cubs are considering bringing back from Iowa.
Sheets to Return Tonight?
Milwaukee ace Ben Sheets, who has been nursing a finger injury, threw off flat ground Tuesday and could start against the Cubs tonight.
“If he feels as good as he feels today, then we will probably go with Benny (tonight),” Brewers manager Ned Yost said.
Sheets was 10-4 with a 3.39 ERA in 19 starts before he went on the DL on July 16.
The Cubs will send Carlos Zambrano (14-10) to the hill. He is trying to snap a three-game losing streak.
Short Hops
Iowa catcher Geovany Soto and second baseman Eric Patterson were named to the all-Pacific Coast League team. … Heading into Tuesday’s game, the Cubs had a 1.32 ERA from their bullpen in the previous 10 games. The Brewers were 25-40 in road games heading into this series.
More Cubs news is at www.dailysouthtown.com/sports

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